Success! Yang from Cambodia raised $292 to fund cataract surgery.

100%

$292 raised, $0 to go

$292

raised

to go

Yang's story
Yang's update

December 21, 2016

Yang is a 76-year-old woman who lives with her granddaughter. She likes to join ceremonies at the pagoda and listen to monks pray.

Two years ago, Yang developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly and going anywhere outside.

When Yang learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 21, doctors performed a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Yang will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

“I hope I can see everything more clearly,” says Yang, “so that I can easily go to the pagoda.”

Yang is a 76-year-old woman who lives with her granddaughter. She likes to join ceremonies at the pagoda and listen to monks pray. Two y...

Photo of Yang post-operation

February 2, 2017

Yang underwent successful cataract surgery.

Yang’s eye cataract was successfully removed from her left eye, and clear vision has been restored. Following the operation, she was given eye drops to reduce inflammation and fight infection.

Yang says, “I feel happy that I can see clearly so that I can easily go to the pagoda by myself.”

Yang's eye cataract was successfully removed from her left eye, and clear vision has been restored. Following the operation, she was given e...

December 21, 2016
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Yang was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
December 21, 2016
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Yang received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
December 31, 2016
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Yang's profile was published to start raising funds.
January 13, 2017
FULLY FUNDED
Yang's treatment was fully funded.
February 2, 2017
TREATMENT UPDATE
Yang's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 10 donors

Treatment

Cataract - Two Eyes

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $292 for Yang's treatment

Hospital Fees

$187

Medical Staff

$100

Medication

Supplies

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them. If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Wesley is a 30-year-old man from Kenya. While Wesley is not formally employed, he engages in occasional online work to sustain himself and to support his dependent parents. On April 7th, Wesley was involved in a motorbike accident while driving in rainy conditions. The accident resulted in an open fracture of the left tibia/fibula. Upon admission to the hospital, he underwent suturing of the wound and was placed in a plaster back slab to stabilize the fracture. However, he will still require surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 18th, Wesley will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will alleviate the risks of permanent disability, potential infection, and malunion of the fractured leg. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund Wesley's treatment and care. “Kindly help me. I have a lot of pain and am also worried about my leg. I hope to get support so that my leg can be treated, and I can be able to go on with my life and get married,” said Wesley.

Saream lives in Cambodia with her niece's family. Her niece and husband work as grocery sellers in the village, while Saream stays home as a caretaker. In her free time, she likes listening to Cambodian traditional music and cooking. Saream and her niece traveled two hours to reach the Children's Surgical Centre for consultation regarding scar tissue contractures on her ankle. Due to the swelling and restriction of movement, Saream finds it difficult to walk and get housework done. On March 4th, Saream will have a contracture release surgery. This surgery will improve her mobility and ability to carry out everyday tasks at home. Now, the family needs help to fund the $487 procedure, including post-op care and physiotherapy. Saream shared, "I hope I can fix this problem and be able to take care of my family."

Ly is a one-year-old girl from Cambodia. Ly's father is a farmer and her mother stays home to care for Ly and her two older siblings. Ly enjoys eating noodle soup, and likes to play with toys. Ly was born with polydactyly of both feet. This means that she has an extra toe on each foot. If the extra toes are not removed, it will become difficult for her to use her feet as she grows older and she could feel uncomfortable around others. Fortunately, on April 22nd, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra toe. Ly's family is able to contribute $100 but our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, needs an additional $199 to fund this procedure. After surgery, she will be able to walk easier and her parents will not worry about other children making fun of her feet. Ly’s mother shared, "I hope she will be able to have normal feet just like other kids when she grows up."

Yang's Timeline

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Funded by 10 donors

Treatment

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100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.